Here's Zealous, Peeping Tom in rematch

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Peeping Tom gets another crack at Here's Zealous in Saturday's $75,000-added Paumonok Handicap at Aqueduct after finishing a well-beaten second to Here's Zealous in the Gravesend last month.

A year ago, Peeping Tom was at the top of his game, but he has been on a cold streak since winning the Grade 1 Carter last May. Here's Zealous, on the other hand, is white-hot after winning his last two starts, including a four-length romp in the Grade 3 Gravesend, which resulted in a 108 Beyer Speed Figure.

Here's Zealous picks up four pounds off his Gravesend win and carries one less than the 119-pound highweight, Peeping Tom.

Here's Zealous and Peeping Tom face five others in the Paumonok.

Richard Dutrow Jr., Here's Zealous's trainer, also entered Late Carson, a veteran sprinter who is tough at the Paumonok's six-furlong distance. The Dutrow horses run under different ownership and are not coupled.

Dutrow said the Gravesend set up perfectly for Here's Zealous when speedball Run Kush Run, who is entered here, took care of business on the front end, allowing Here's Zealous to assume a stalking position.

Dutrow thinks Here's Zealous might be more effective from off the pace even though the 5-year-old has won in gate-to-wire fashion.

"If he breaks good, he can carry them around there," Dutrow said. "This horse is better than he has ever been."

Norberto Arroyo rides Here's Zealous, who drew post 4.

Peeping Tom, void of early speed, trailed the field at the top of the stretch in the Gravesend and made up ground in the stretch to nip Say Florida Sandy for second money. Six furlongs isn't Peeping Tom's game, but trainer Pat Reynolds is using the Paumonok as a stepping-stone to next month's $200,000 General George at Laurel, a race won by Peeping Tom last year.

"Speed dominates at three-quarters over the inner track, and we'll have to play catch up," Reynolds said. "They got away from him last time, but I think he's a little sharper after that sprint and he might lay a little closer."

Richard Migliore replaces Shaun Bridgmohan aboard Peeping Tom.

Wrangler ran a huge race when he won a third-level allowance race on Jan. 1. Wrangler covered the six furlongs in 1:10.18 and earned a 110 Beyer Speed Figure. According to the chart, Wrangler gained 2 1/2 lengths into a last quarter that was run in 23.64 seconds.

"He has a short run, but it's a good run," trainer Jimmy Jerkens said. "We'll see how he runs against horses that don't back up as easy."

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